Nautnes / Tjeldstø 22 - 27 April 2019 - Back to incidental birding

The cracking weather continues but work took its toll this week and there were no trips out at all, just the usual stop beside Husvatnet on the way to shops / bus stop and whatever happened to pass the terrace.

On 23 April a flock of 19 Sand Martin sandsvale was a huge number in a local context.

Otter from the terrace

From the terrace displaying Curlew storspove, Woodcock rugde, Snipe enkeltbekkasin were pretty much daily along with Swallows låvesvale, Wheatear steinskvett, Willow Warbler løvsanger, Chiff-chaff gransanger etc. On 26 April House Martin taksvale and Common Sandpiper strandsnipe were new for the year. Otter was, as usual, pretty much daily along with White-tailed Eagle havørn.

Fieldfare gråtrost

Male Ruff brushane

Twite bergirisk at Tjeldstø

White Wagtail linerle

On 27 April misty conditions brought down a variety of migrants at Tjeldstø including a nice male Ruff brushane, a flock of 200 Fieldfare gråtrost, several Golden Plover heilo and a 2cy Peregrine vandrefalk were among the birds noted.

Øygarden 01 March 2018 - Cracking weather unless you have a long probing bill

Freezing calm and sunny.

Fantastic weather for humans, less so for those creatures who like to find their food in the upper layer of the soil. Calm and sunny but frozen. It did not feel cold but it never got warm enough to thaw much even in the middle of the day.

Took a lazy walk at Skogsøy but the lagoons which were the target area today were pretty much frozen. Just a couple of Whoopers sangsvane along with the usual duck. Over the sea a solitary Gannet havsule, a single White-tailed Eagle havørn and not a lot else were to be seen.

Fieldfare gråtrost

Redwing rødvingetrost

Starling stær - probably a returning migrant and quite possibly the only time this year I will bother photographing this rather photogenic species.

A drive-by at Herdlevær gave perhaps the best photographic opportunities of the day with Starling stær, Redwing rødvingetrost and Fieldfare gråtrost feeding on a patch of ground that looked like it had a chance of thawing.

Snipe enkeltbekkasin are having a hard time of things now

Most of the Whooper sangsvane family

Whoopers sangsvane

Tjeldstø was rather better with a family of Whoopers sangsvane, at least two Woodcock rugde, a Snipe enkeltbekkasin, a fly-over Greylag grågås and many of the usual suspects.

Another Woodcock rugde turned up very close to my house at Nautnes. They will start dying very soon if the weather remains as cold as is forecast.....

Øygarden 22 January 2018 - A cracking day out

High cloud and SE winds, temperatures creeping over freezing.

The intention today was a quick walk at Hjelme Vest and then home again to get on with things but this plan went horribly, horribly wrong. There was just too much to see.

Hjelme Vest was rather quiet with just a nice Great Northern Diver islom on the sea, a few small flocks of Purple Sandpipers fjæreplytt, a couple of White-tailed Eagle havørn, Rock Pipit skjærpiplerke and many of the usual suspects.

A Fieldfare gråtrost in a bad way...

.....and another just slightly worse off

A Redwing rødvingetrost working its way along a snow free area of ground. This spot is often used by sheep to shelter from the worst of the weather and the soil is therefore no doubt a little richer - hopefully providing something in the way of food.

A Wren gjerdesmett worked the same section of ground and even passed under the Fieldfare gråtrost.

It is obvious that the Fieldfares gråtrost are struggling - a few good sized flocks came in off the sea heading south -numbering some 250 in total. I found three dead and one moribund bird on the short walk. The first dead bird looked like it had just dropped dead from its perch in a tree - it is quite possible this bird used the last of its energy evading a bird of prey and then could not survive the night. Other dead Fieldfares gråtrost had been dead slightly longer - two of them along a stretch of ground protected from snowfall by an overhanging cliff.

I left most of one of my sandwiches along this stretch -hoping it might just be enough to save a thrush or two as they work their way along looking for food. Very shortly afterwards a Redwing rødvingetrost showed up working its way along in the direction of the sandwich crumbs.....

Above: two Common Snipe enkeltbekkasin

Woodcock rugde feeding very close to my house.

A Woodcok rugde fed just outside my house and gave good views from the car. Elsewhere a couple of Snipe enkeltbekkasin also gave an excellent roadside showing.

Best sighting of the day - two albifrons Whitefronts tundragås

The drive-bys continued with a pair of adult albifrons Whitefronts tundragås at Sture.

Trying by now to limit the birding I swung by Blomvatnet as I neared the grocery shop - where I picked up a Dipper fossekall.

Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett

An unseasonal Meadow Pipit heipiplerke

On my way home I drove through Hatten where a Meadow Pipit heipiplerke put in a very unseasonal appearance, my first Grey-headed Woodpecker gråspett of the year showed up and a Goshawk hønsehauk flew over.

Not bad at all.
   

Tjeldstø 16 January 2013 - Water Rail again

SE winds, steady light snowfall and well below freezing.

Still no time for birding as such and conditions were most unpleasant anyway - which is not to say there weren't any birds about.

A quick look at Tjeldstø produced a Snipe enkeltbekkasin and the first Fieldfare gråtrost of the year at this locality.

Water Rail vannrikse

Another good sighting was the Water Rail vannrikse on the afternoon school run. Very difficult to get any photos though as I didn't want to scare it by getting out of the car and the road isn't wide enough for two cars. Tried a couple of passes but gave up in the end. Apologies to both the cars who had to stop and for the profanities hurled at you.....

Herring Gulsl gråmåke

Hooded Crows kråke

A drive-by at the Herdlevær / Skogsøy gull flock convinced me that something good will turn up there if I only get the time to look....

Herdlevær 24 November 2012

Strong southerlies, some showers but a glimt of sunshine.

No real change in the birds - a few Little Auk alkekonge, a couple of Kittiwake krykkje and the usual Snipe enkeltbekkasin, White-tailed Eagles havørn, thrushes etc.

 Part of a feeding Fieldfare gråtrost flock

Herring Gull gråmåke

Raven ravn

Plenty of Fieldfare gråtrost knocking about with flocks seen at Herdlevær, Breivik and Tjeldstø.

Weather forecast set to change tomorrow - we can but hope....

Øygarden 19 May 2011

White Wagtail linerle

 Above and below Fieldfare gråtrost

Southerly with occasional showers.

Rather regretted not making the trip to Hernar as there was little of interest to find elsewhere. The Ringed Plover sandlo pair at Sture have hatched four chicks which is good news - the nest was narrowly missed by trucks a few days ago. Otherwise just a singing Lesser Whitethroat møller at Sture, a few singing Blackcaps munk here and there and a couple of House Martins taksvale.

About 40 Barnacle Geese hvitkinngås headed north over Tjeldstø.